we have taken a half trillion dollars out of defense already. the commander in chief ought to be at the table with us negotiating about how to redo these consuuts. we can do that. he's not been there, has not laid out a proposal which is amazing to me. last year in may and again in december, we passed ways to deal with this without cutting defense. the senate never took them up. the president never responded to our request to negotiate, so here we are. at the end of the day, you have to start getting this budget into balance. and i think republicans, it's a blunt instrument, but it's the only one in hand. and if this is what we have to do, we'll do it. and then we'll try and rejigger the cuts, if you will, without lowering the amount being cut in the continuing resolution toward the end of march. >> you know, proving that i cannot walk and chew gum at the same time. >> right. >> it just hit me. >> what? >> chuck todd's here! >> yes. i tried to tell you. >> i'm sorry, chuck. i was so swept up by mr. specificity. >> i'm a tom cole fan. >> i am, to